Rail

2013 Top Rail Projects Total Reaches $99B

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s New York City Transit regains the top spot in METRO’s Top Rail Projects survey with a projected $14.3 billion in projects, with last year’s No.1, the Toronto Transit Commission, right behind them with $14 billion.

As has been the recent trend, Canadian projects continue to make a huge impact in the industry with six transit agencies, totaling approximately $21.8 billion, appearing in this year’s list. Meanwhile, projects at five California transit agencies total more than $10.4 billion.

Rounding out METRO’s top five are Seattle’s Sound Transit with $9 billion; Boston’s Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority with $7.1 billion; and the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation with $5.1 billion.Overall, this year’s approximate $99 billion project purse is higher than the $83 billion reported in 2012.

At a GlanceThis year’s Top Rail Projects features three new construction projects, including the Florida Department of Transportation’s $615 million SunRail project (No. 27); the City of Tucson Department of Transportation’s $196 million Sun Link streetcar project (No. 38); and Detroit’s M-1 Rail $137 million streetcar project.

Further analysis of this year’s numbers show respondents have 3,409 new railcars on order, with a majority of those vehicles expected to be heavy railcars. This year, METRO Magazine listed 40 projects and highlighted three transit projects with more in depth coverage.

If you know an agency with plans for the future, but were omitted from this year’s survey, please let us know so that we can include it next year. METRO would also like to send a special thanks to all the agencies for taking the time to fill out our surveys and continuing to participate in this annual feature.